Fireplace construction



G. E. CARPENTER 2,796,858 v FIRERLACE CONSTRUCTION v' -`lune 25, 1957 Filed Feb. 18, 1955 A TTORN JNVENToR Geo/e E. mae/#ef FmEPLACE CONSTRUCTISN George E. Carpenter, Topeka, Kans.

Application February 18, 1955, Serial No. 489,030

1 Claim. (Cl. 126-62) This invention relates to iireplace construction and particularly to a relatively inexpensive unit that may be easily manufactured and installed either during construction of the home or at a later date, all without special skill or material modification of the walls and floors.

It is the most important object of the instant invention to provide a self-contained iireplace unit having a re chamber presented through use of a hollow body adapted for insertion within a vertical wall between the studdings thereof and including additionally, a ue that may extend upwardly from the tire chamber within the double wall of the building.

Other objects include the way in which there is provided a special adaptor at the upper end of the fire chamber for receiving the flue; the way in which lateral flanges are provided on the body to hold the same in place within the wall; the manner of providing a double-wall construction in the body that forms the tire chamber for insulating purposes; and many important details of construction of the hearth, mantle, trim, base and deflector for products of combustion, al1 of which will be made clear as the following specification progresses.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of fireplace construction made according to my present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line II-II of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on line Ill- Ill of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line IV--IV of Fig. l; and

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line VV of Fig. 2.

A tire chamber is provided in the construction about to be described by virtue of the utilization of a hollow body broadly designated by the numeral 12, that is open at the front thereof and adapted to be inserted in an opening 14 within a vertical wall 16 between studdings 13 of wall 16.

Body 12 may rest directly upon ioor 20 and is provided with a top 22, a back 24 and a pair of sides 26 and ZS, all of which are preferably of double-wall construction as seen in Figs. 3-5 presenting an air space 30 opening downwardly as seen in Fig. 4 for the purpose of insulating the body 12 and reducing the lire hazard.

The top 22 of body 12 has an elongated slot 32 covered by a special adaptor 34 that may be secured to the top 22 in any suitable manner and within which is formed an opening 36 for receiving a liue 38. The flue 38 extends upwardly frorn the top 22 within the wall 16 and between spaced panels 40 and 42 of the wall 16.

Gutturned flanges 44 on the sides 26 and 28 of the body 12, bear against the wall 42 along the opening 14 2,796,858 Patented Jurre 25, 1957 and may be aiiixed to the panel 42 if desired. A suitable facing or trim 46 overlapping the flanges 44 and attached to the panel 42, provide a finished appearance simulating a more expensive fireplace construction.

An inverted, hollow base 48 within the body 12 and resting upon the floor 20, supports a grate 50 that in turn receives a number of artificial logs 52 and a gas burner 54 beneath the logs 52 may be coupled with a source of fuel supply by means of line 56 and controlled by a shut-off valve having a manual operating knob 58. Products of combustion emanating from the burner 54 are confined within the lire chamber 10 and directed to the flue 38 by means of an apron 60 depending from the top 22 at the open front of the tire chamber 10. The body 12 may extend into an adjoining room, as best seen in Fig. 4, and if desired, the same may be boxed in and shelving provided thereby.

In accordance with the present invention there is also provided a novel hearth 62 produced first by cutting away the floor 20 and sub-floor 64 directly in front of the base 48 and utilizing joists 66 to support a corrugated metal sheet 68 upon which is placed a coating of mortar '70 for receiving tile 72. The fireplace is completed by the provision of a mantle 74 suitably mounted on the panel 42 above the trim 46.

It is now seen that the fireplace construction of the instant invention is particularly adapted for use in inexpensive building constructions and has the added advantage of adaptability for installation at any time after the house is built. It is but necessary to cut the opening 14 within the wall 16 and remove a part of the floors 20 and 64, whereupon the hollow body 12 and the flue 38, together with all associated parts, may be inserted in place and attached as desired without further modification of the existing structure.

The ue 38 can be extended upwardly through the wall 16 and thence through the roof of the building to carry away the gases emanating from the burner 54, thereby permitting the use of the fireplace construction for heating purposes in addition to ornamentation.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

In a fireplace, an open front, hollow body having a back, top, and a pair of sides each having a pair of spaced walls and adapted for insertion into an opening within a vertical double wall between a pair of upright studs forming a part of the wall, there being an elongated slot in said top extending substantially the entire length thereof; an elongated flue adaptor mounted on the top in complete registration with the slot and provided with an outlet slit in the uppermost face at one end thereof, said slit being in vertical alignment with and substantially shorter than the slot; a flue having one end thereof fitted within the slit and extending upwardly therefrom within the Wall; outturned iiange means integral with the body at said open front thereof for bearing against one face of the wall to limit the extent of movement of the body in one direction; and a vertical imperforate apron depending from the forwardmost edge of the top at said openfront of the body and extending approximately half the distance between said top and the lowermost end of the body for deecting products of combustion into the flue.

Andrews Dec. 28, 1926 Jones et al. May 23, 1950 

